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Last boy band standing
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Date: Jan 31, 2006 Last boy band standing First posted 06:37pm (Mla time) Jan 31, 2006 By Tammy David Inquirer Editor's Note: Published on Page C3 of the February 1, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer BEFORE Westlife won (and later bored) fans with their remakes. Before Taiwanese import F4 charmed and charged Filipino fans 10k for front-row tickets. Before Brit quartet Code Red made popsters laugh out loud with their dance steps... there were the Backstreet Boys. Thanks to Howie, Kevin, AJ, Brian and Nick, music in the '90s will be remembered not only for the head-banging fellas from Seattle (Nirvana, who else), but also for the suave singing and dancing by the pretty boys who dominated the scene during the latter part of the decade. It was the Backstreet Boys, or BSB to fans, who pioneered the era of manufactured boy bands and pop acts. And since the boys really made it a point to set their band apart by insisting it was "all about the music," they would sometimes perform a capella just to prove they had the voice to back up their looks and marketability. Their efforts paid off since, it seems, they are the last band standing (read: Complete Five original members). Flashback. The boys came to Manila for the first time in October 1996. This was the time baby-faced Nick Carter had long hair (and a neck!). The boys wore matching ensembles and their fans religiously subscribed to the popster bible, Smash Hits. The boys were also relatively unknown in the United States, their homeland, but were already certified superstars in other parts of the globe, the Philippines included. They performed at Limits Disco, and I still remember that day clearly. I rushed to Megamall to get their autograph. My cheek got scratched after a minor scuffle, and Howie Dorough promised me they'd be back soon. I was expecting a concert the following year, but of course, we all know what happened to them afterwards. Superstardom They finally hit it big in the US two years after they had made a mark in other continents. They topped the Billboard charts, sold millions of albums, got numerous awards and Grammy nods, dealt with lawsuits and came out with a greatest hits album in 2001. Some members got hitched, Nick Carter released a solo album. The group also dealt with bad press, such as AJ McLean's alcohol and cocaine addiction. But like many loyal fans in Asia who up to now still argue with N*Sync fans, sympathized with AJ McLean when he entered rehab, and hated a certain hotel heiress for romancing Nick Carter, I was still wishing to see them perform live for the second time. Comeback The boys have made a comeback. Five years after their last studio album, the Backstreet Boys released "Never Gone" last June and announced a world tour. So last Jan. 20, fans packed the Araneta Center; they ranged from those who had braces and baby fat to the older set (many of them still fat and overweight), all pining for their favorite Backstreet Boy. Though the show was far from the usual million-dollar production that characterized the band during their "Millennium" tour, the energy inside the coliseum was high. The fans didn't seem to care that the boys were dressed like their brothers, which is a far cry from the tailored suits and silk shirts they had worn during their peak. The boys performed a total of 21 songs, and the audience sang along to numerous hits such as "All I have To Give" and the songs from the group's latest album, "I Still." Nick introduced his "girl," which turned out to be a guitar, and played "Climbing the Walls." He gave a mean rock show with "Just Want You to Know." Kevin Richardson played the piano when he concluded the set with "Never Gone," which he had written in memory of his father. The encore, "Backstreet's Back," fitted the band's current momentum. Backstreet to the future In a press conference, the boys mentioned their plans, which were mostly personal. They talked about solo albums, a gospel album, venturing into acting, developing artists with their respective production companies. Still others talked about establishing a lupus foundation and embracing fatherhood. As much as fans wished them the best, many were worried it might take another five years to release a studio album or worse, "Never Gone" might be their last. But personally, pardon the cheese, the Backstreet Boys have already made their mark in pop culture-surviving the business, touching lives and growing up with their fans. We just have to wait and see. So being a fan, yes, I'm hoping for a follow-up to "Never Gone" and another concert even if it's going to be 20 years from now. "Backstreet's Back, all right!" E-mail tammydavid@gmail.com.
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